First National Eucharist Pilgrimage Includes Sidney

On Thursday, June 13, Sidney was at the center of the First National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, one of four routes traveled by walkers that will eventually converge in Indianapolis, Indiana. One of the organizers of the pilgrimage here in Sidney, Henrietta Pelster, helped coordinate the event, contacting media outlets like the Sun-Telegraph to get the message out that a historic event for the Catholic faith was going to be going through Sidney.

Pelster is a Parish Council member at St. Patrick's Church in Sidney, and she was appointed to help coordinate this task. Much of what she has accomplished was done through faith, as she has said that she had no experience organizing an event such as this, and she relied on her faith to guide her and make the right decisions for the pilgrimage.

"I'm on the Parish Council and I was appointed Parish Point-Person, and I don't know what I'm doing," she said with a laugh. She added, "But whatever I do and for how it's all worked out, I rely on the Holy Spirit."

Preparations for the event started over a year ago, and although the pilgrimage was well-planned, changes and adjustments all had to be made at the last moment, and Pelster and the other organizers handled all of the challenges in stride.

When asked what the message of the pilgrimage is, Pelster said, "The message is that Jesus is real and He is present in the Holy Eucharist. Body, blood, soul, and divinity."

For those not familiar with Christianity, "Eucharist" is derived from the Greek word "eucharistia", meaning "thanksgiving." Traditionally, the celebration of the Eucharist is when bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest.

Four pilgrimage paths in the United States will all end up in Indianapolis. The path that went through Sidney is the Serra Path, which originated in San Francisco. Pilgrimage walkers started on the West Coast and have been making their way east, with a support group following in vehicles carrying supplies, an altar, and other religious accouterments.

Chas Firestone East is from Roanoke, Virginia, out of the Richmond Diocese. He is a PhD student at Columbia University in New York City. He went through an application process, including essays and demographic questions, and those that were accepted were divided into four groups, each assigned a route. He was assigned the Serra Route, so he flew across the country to San Francisco to start his journey. They received financial support through groups such as Modern Catholic Pilgrim to help with their travel expenses, lodging, and food expenses during their journey.

At 10 a.m. a Mass was held at St. Patrick's Church, which was filled with celebrants. Priests who were traveling with the pilgrimage each gave sermons, and after the Mass was complete, the pilgrims and those who were joining in on the Sidney leg assembled outside of the church, started their journey north on 13th Avenue, and then turned right and headed east on Illinois Street. The procession continued past the downtown area and then made a left into the parking lot of Nebraskaland Tire. The pilgrims and those joining them assembled near the building where the traveling altar was set up, and the benediction was given. After the benediction was complete, the pilgrims and a group following headed back onto Illinois Street and continued to the junction of Route 385. They continued north and then headed east on Route 30, and then continued to Colton.

Those who were able to witness the pilgrimage were able to celebrate a joyful undertaking and felt privileged to be a part of history. By all accounts, the success and turnout for this event will most likely ensure the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will be a yearly event.